4 ms·
I think conventional wisdom on this one suggests the answer to your question is "No". Ultimately you do want that doubt to go away I'd imagine, so think to you
by byr0nic 15y ago
I think conventional wisdom on this one suggests the answer to your question is "No".
Ultimately you do want that doubt to go away I'd imagine, so think to yourself, what are the steps that need to be taken for the doubt to disappear? Then ask, how likely are those steps to happen?
I can only speak from the experience of not having doubted initially but then beginning to doubt... I'm still with the same co-founder in that company as we were able to work through the specific points of difference, however I can say the result is a compromised experience compared to the original vision (at least on my behalf).
Nevertheless, it is one that has had positive benefits away from the specific company in question, inasmuch as encouraging me to adopt a broader perspective on where I'm looking to find fulfillment (of various kinds), which has in turn ultimately led me to start a second company which I'm more passionate about, has a more favourable business model, and is the one I want to spend most of my time towards.
i.e. depending on your nature, there are positive externalities that can come from sticking it out, and it may actually work out holistically for the better.
That being said, it's a matter of probability; in all reality, the arrangement won't be ideal and the only value you'll extract from the process is that generic/ubiquitous 'wisdom of failure'.
- byr0nic 15y agoWhilst I was writing the above, I recalled a more pointed answer to your secondary question - It's probably not quite the kind of "doubt" you reference, however Max Levchin at Startup School recently referred to having a scintilla of such towards Peter Thiel when they were first kicking off PayPal. This doubt was engendered after Max was abandoned in a carpark with an empty car battery by Peter who seemingly didn't really care too much for his welfare (I personally wouldn't consider Max referencing a deep-seated sense of doubt, but maybe that's all that you're referring to)... I think by all measures, things worked out fairly well thereafter... ;-) If you haven't watched/listened to it already, worth the time for the above and other amusing anecdotes/morsels of wisdom: http://www.justin.tv/startupschool/b/298808490 http://www.justin.tv/startupschool/b/298808490
- waterbottle1 15y agothat's the video that prompted me to ask this question! Max also said, 'Where there is doubt, there is no doubt.' which I generally agree with...but maybe entrepreneurs have a tendency to believe that they could be the exception to any rule.
- byr0nic 15y agoWell, without wanting to regurgitate that which has become trite, it has been acknowledged that a little delusion-masked-by-confidence in an entrepreneur isn't an entirely bad thing!